By Tom E. Curran
CSNNE.comFOXBORO -- Before the season began, Rex Ryan made a blanket request to all future Patriots' opponents. Beat them. After Rex's team got handled Sunday, his request may become closer to a plea. And he can direct it this week at his twin brother Rob, the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys. Rob, as you no doubt know, has background with the Patriots, serving four seasons as linebackers coach (2000-03) in New England. He became the Raiders' defensive coordinator in 2004. That wasa dead-end job since Al Davis set the defense and created the game plans, but he stayed there until 2008 before joining Eric Mangini in Cleveland as the DC. It was there that Rob was able to showcase his schemes and one of the landmark games he coordinated came last November when he directed the Browns defense to a 34-14 win over the Patriots. The Patriots had three turnovers and 283 total yards. So the Patriots go back-to-back with Ryan-inspired defenses. And, in truth, that has to be an advantage for the Patriots because the teaching material is fresh for the offensive students. "There's definitely some carryover," Bill Belichick agreed Monday afternoon. "I wouldn't say they're exactly the same, but there is carryover. Both are based out of the 3-4 but use a lot of different looks, both defenses use a lot of multiple defensive backs -- four, five, six, seven."The Patriots abused the multi-DB look against the Jets Sunday, gashing them with BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Rob will have seen that but Rex may pass on other nuances he picked up breaking down the game film Monday. "I'm sure they talk a lot," Belichick smiled. "I'm sure they exchange a lot of ideas and that kind of thing."One other detail that could have some interesting impact on Sunday is the fact Dallas is coming off its bye week and had extra time to tweak its own tendencies and break down the Patriots. Will it all make a difference? That's likely Ryan's hope.Obviously they have more time and extra days to prepare for you but from Sunday to Sunday that's ample time to get ready.